Hwy 401 service centres to reopen next fall

Cambridge centre

Submitted image

An artist's concept of the new service centre under construction along the south side of Highway 401, east of Cambridge. It's smaller than its companion building under construction on the north side of the highway.

PUSLINCH TOWNSHIP — Redevelopment of the Highway 401 service centres east of Cambridge remains on schedule to be completed by next autumn.

In July, the Ontario Transportation Ministry officials said unexpected contamination found at the former Petro-Canada and McDonalds restaurant sites delayed the project.

Originally, new Canadian Tire fuel stations and fast food restaurants were expected to be partly open by fall 2012, and complete by January.

Cleanup costs are covered by the previous tenant, not the province, said Bob Nichols, ministry spokesperson.

The new service centre on the north side of the highway is expected to open in September; the one on the south side in October.

When construction is finished, the new north building will be about 21,000 square feet. The south building is planned to be 14,800 square feet.

The highway stops opened in the mid 1980s, between Wellington County roads 32 and 35. By the late 1990s, they were home to two of the busiest McDonalds outlets in North America. The service centres closed in September, 2011.

The Cambridge projects are two of the last three underway in a $300-million revamp and expansion of 20 service centres along highways 400 and 401. Host Kilmer Service Centres has a 50-year deal with the province to operate the new service centres.

Food tenants have not yet been confirmed for the local sites, Nichols said.